Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is reportedly moving illegal immigrants into tents amid the city’s migrant crisis.
Johnson said that the move was made with expediency to transition illegal immigrants into “more suitable” base camps as they wait for spots in city-run shelters.
“We’ve identified multiple locations around the city that can be suitable to treat the families of individuals, who by law are seeking asylum constitutionally, legally, to have a place that recognizes their dignity,” Johnson said.
According to city data, 1,576 migrants have been living in Chicago police stations, while another 418 have been sleeping inside O’Hare International Airport.
As expected, residents are against the idea as they may foot the bill, but the mayor said that new or increased taxes will be needed to pay for the services.
“So the sacrifices that will be required in this moment will be necessary from all of us, every single level of government,” Johnson said at a separate news conference on Friday when asked about whether additional taxing will be needed.
“Look, I can tell you that the cost of inaction will be far more substantial,” he said. “The point here is: Police stations being used as landing zones, that’s what I inherited. And I’ve said that from the very beginning that this is not dignified. So my plan is to move, with expediency, families out of police stations into housing and shelter that’s more suitable.”
Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, suggested tent shelters could protect migrants from the weather and give comfort, but he emphasized that there is still the matter of money. Hopkins said he was informed that they would have metal frames, good insulation, and heating.
“We expect they’ll arrive over the weekend, and there literally is not a single bed available to accommodate them,” Hopkins said. “There isn’t even floor space for another sleeping bag in a police station. There is literally nowhere for them to go, and yet we know they’re on their way.”
The U.S. has been seeing massive migrant numbers since President Joe Biden lifted “Title 42” earlier this year, a controversial border policy implemented by former President Donald Trump back in March 2020 that allowed the border agency to turn migrants away.
